Detroit Pistons: 5 options for the 5th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft

After winning just 23 games last season, the Detroit Pistons were rewarded with the 5th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Try not to celebrate too hard.

This season proves why I hate tanking and why the NBA needs to get rid of the Draft Lottery completely, but I digress.

The Detroit Pistons should still be able to land a good player with the 5th pick one way or another, as there is no consensus on the top guy and he may end up falling to Detroit if they get lucky or a team like the Kings sniffs out the bust and picks him (I do feel more comfortable with the Kangz picking directly in front of Detroit).

There will almost certainly be a player available at five that the Detroit Pistons like and who would complement Cade Cunningham, so chances are that they will just use that pick to take the best player available and I trust Troy Weaver to find that guy.

But they have other options, five total by my count, and there may be more. This has the potential to be a wild offseason for the Detroit Pistons.

Detroit Pistons: Options for the 5th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft

Option #1: Pick Jaden Ivey or Shaedon Sharpe

The first option would be to take one of Jaden Ivey or Shaedon Sharpe, one of whom will almost certainly be available with the 5th pick.

Putting a dynamic, high-ceiling guard next to Cade Cunningham would set the Pistons up in the backcourt for the forseeable future and fill their biggest need.

With Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero, and Jabari Smith expected to go in the top three in some order, even if the Kings choose a guard (would they really add another guard? It’s the Kangz!) one of these two will be there.

Ivey has an electric first step and is a guy who can get his own shot. He’s an explosive athlete with a huge wingspan who some experts have compared to Donovan Mitchell or Anthony Edwards.

Shaedon Sharpe is the draft’s biggest mystery, as he was the top high school prospect of 2022, but ended up not playing at all, so teams are going to have to rely heavily on pre-draft workouts and limited tape.

But Sharpe has all of tools, the highest vertical in the history of the combine, and would immediately give the Detroit Pistons a boost of athleticism, and high-ceiling potential to go with elite size in the backcourt.

If I had to bet, I’d say that the Detroit Pistons will end up with one of these two players.

This would allow them to extend Jerami Grant and give them an exciting starting five whether they ended up landing Deandre Ayton or not.

I could get behind this group:

• Cade Cunningham
• Ivey/Sharpe
• Saddiq Bey
• Jerami Grant
• Deandre Ayton/Isaiah Stewart

But what if the Detroit Pistons want to trade Jerami Grant?